A number of Crusaders have represented their native countries in international competition. Most notably, Joaquim Gomes played for the Angolan national team at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympic Games, as well as the FIBA World Championship, FIBA African Championship and other top-tier international tournaments.

Former Crusader standout Ryan Broekhoff made his senior international debut with the Australian Boomers in the summer of 2012. Broekhoff, Gomes and former Crusader Shawn Huff (Finland) all earned spots most recently this past summer on their respective countries’ squads at the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

Two members of the current Crusader squad have senior international experience. Vashil Fernandez has played for his native Jamaica each of the past three summers, debuting at the 2012 FIBA Centrobasket. Fernandez was a member of the Jamaica squad which made its first ever appearance at the FIBA Americas Championship in 2013, helping his country to an upset of world #3 Argentina. Last summer, Fernandez again appeared for Jamaica at the 2014 Centrobasket.

Shane Hammink made his senior international debut this past summer for the Netherlands as the team prepared for European Championship qualifiers, making him the 14th player in Valparaiso program history to play for his country’s senior national team. Hammink also has a vast array of junior national experience, including averaging 10.9 points and a team-best 6.0 rebounds per game as the Dutch went 5-1 in group play at the 2014 FIBA U20 European Championship. Teammate David Skara represented his native Croatia at the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship as well, helping the squad capture the bronze medal.